Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a procedure performed to relieve pain from compression fractures of the spine by stabilizing the broken vertebral bone with a cement-like substance. Compression fractures can occur from a variety of conditions, including to osteoporosis, tumors or trauma.

What to Expect Before Kyphoplasty

Once you have decided to have surgery, the following events take place:

A medical examination.

Chest X-ray, EKG and blood work.

You may be asked to have a neurological or psychological examination.

If taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications daily, stop these medications at least one week before the lumbar fusion surgery.

Do not have anything to eat or drink for 6 to 8 hours before surgery.

You will check into the hospital the morning of surgery.

Prior to the procedure, you will be asked to sign permits for surgery, anesthesia, blood and blood products.

What to Expect During Kyphoplasty

Your doctor may numb the area, or you may get medicine to make you sleep.

The doctor makes a small cut in your back and puts a balloon device into the fractured vertebra.

The doctor inflates the balloon and then deflates it.

Then he or she puts a substance that works like cement into the space created by the balloon.

It takes 1 to 2 hours to treat each vertebra.

What to Expect After Kyphoplasty

You will be in the recovery room from 1 to 1½ hours.

The surgeon will contact your family while you are in recovery.

After going to a hospital room, you will be able to use a PCA pump to get medication for pain control. This machine controls the amount of medication that can be received.

Staff will usually get you out of bed the same day as the surgery.

The hospital stay is usually 1-3 days.

You will be given any needed prescriptions and discharge instructions.